Apparatus for eliminating the space between a column and a body encompassing the column



4 l w t 9D 2 M h 6 S 3 .r t 3 w e 0 e C h s A 5 Jan. 9, 1968 s. SPLINTER APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING THE SPA A BODY ENCOMPASSING THE COLUMN Filed Jan. 12, 1967 INVENTOR S/MO/V SP4 lA/TfP ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 s. SPLINTER 3,362,054

APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING THE SPACE BETWEEN A COLUMN AND A BODY ENCOMPASSING THE COLUMN Filed Jan. 12, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w .......m.. .m.|rm

l W M H '1" "M 12 Hi I i 1 I i' i 5 3's w I I m 1 I w r l I I INVENTOR J/Mo/v SP; lA/TEA ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1968 s, SPUNTER 3,362,054

APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING THE SPACE BETWEEN A COLUMN AND A ODY ENCOMPASSING THE COLUMN Filed Jan. 12, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY r- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,362,054 APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING THE SPACE BE- TWEEN A COLUMN AND A BODY EN COM- PASSING THE COLUMN Simon Splinter, Schiedam, Netherlands, assiguor to N.V. Werf Gusto v/ h Firma A. F. Smulders Filed Jan. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 608,933 Claims priority, application Negherlands, Jan. 21, 1966,

66-82 7 Claims. (Cl. 24263) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A body encompasses a column and carries a plurality of pressure members each of which is movable toward and away from the column to close the space between the body and the column. A wedge acts behind each pressure member, and the wedges swing about horizontal axes that are perpendicular to the direction of wedge movement. The wedges are vertically elongated and their horizontal axes are intermediate their length. A plurality of wedges act in oppositely directed tandem and are simultaneously actuated by a single operating means.

The present invention relates to apparatus for eliminating the space between a column and a body encompassing the column, such as the space between the column or pile of a drilling platform and the guide for this column which is carried in or on a pontoon. The space is eliminated by a number of pressure members which are movable between operative and retracted positions.

In the past, such apparatus has consisted of pressure members cooperating with a number of bolts which act against a fixed portion of the structure and which are screwed in the necessary distance in order to bring the pressure member into operative position at the same time that it rests accurately against a guide. In inaccessible places, however, it is diflicult to reach the bolts, with the result that a good deal of time is lost or the bolts are not screwed in properly. Such improper adjustment may entail serious consequences, particularly in the case of piling on which large lateral forces are exerted. Among such piles are the columns of a drilling platform, which are guided at different locations spaced above one another, for example at the top of a stand mounted on the pontoon and at the bottom of the pontoon.

The present invention solves the difficulties of the prior art by moving the pressure members from their retracted to their operative positions by means of wedges. The wedges swing about horizontal axes that are at right angles to the direction of movement of the Wedges. The vertical swinging movement that is thus possible to the wedge ensures that the pressure member can bear flat against the column along the entire length of the pressure member. Thus, if the pressure member and the column are initially canted relative to each other, then the upper end or the lower end of the wedge can swing farther forward so as to move the pressure member into parallelism with the column, that is, into contact with the column along the full length of the pressure member.

Also according to the present invention, the wedges can be located in relatively inaccessible spaces, and operating mechanism for the wedges is provided which can be operated from a relatively accessible place.

A plurality of the wedges are also simultaneously operable by a common operating means. Preferably, the wedges are also oppositely movable in tandem, so that the forces imposed on the system tend to balance each other.

As not all the wedges need necessarily be moved the same distance, it is possible by appropriate linkage to move the wedges difierent distances by means of a common operating means.

The invention will be described and illustrated in connection with a drilling platform, it being of course understood that it is readily adaptable to any of a variety of other environments.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view, on the line II of FIG. 2, showing the present invention embodied in the environment of a pontoon and a column traversing the pontoon;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line IIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of wedge-operating means according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a body 1 in the form of a pontoon, traversed by an upright column 2. Pressure members 3 are provided which are adapted to bear against adjacent portions of column 2 adjacent the corners of column 2. The column 2 may have the configuration shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,056,- 585, Oct. 2, 1962, and need not be further described here. Sufiice it to sa that the pressure members 3 preferably bear against column 2 in line with and in the plane of the sides of column 2. In FIG. 1, the upper of the two pressure members 3 is shown in fully engaged position, and the lower of the two pressure members 3 is shown in fully retracted position.

To bring the pressure member 3 from the retracted position to the fully engaged position, a wedge 4 having an inclined surface 32 is forced between pressure member 3 and a backing member 33. An adjustable abutment 31 limits the rearward or retracted movement of wedge 4. The backing member 33 is fixed to body 1 and has an interface with Wedge 4 that is parallel to the direction of movement of wedge 4.

If the column 2 is inclined with respect to body 1, then the pressure member 3 should desirably follow that inclination so that it will bear flat against the column 2 despite the inclination of column 2. To this end, therefore, the wedge 4 is mounted for vertical swinging move ment about a horizontal axle 7 disposed intermediate the length of the vertically elongated wedge 4. The upper or lower end of the Wedge 4 can thus thrust forward a greater distance than the other end of Wedge 4 in order to thrust the upper or the lower end of pressure member 3 a greater distance forward to follow the tilt of the column 2. In order to avoid scoring the inclined rear surface of the pressure member 3, the upper and lower ends of the surfaces 32 can be relieved on an arc that centers on axle 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower ends of wedge 4 are rounded as at 5 and 6, for this purpose.

The wedge-operating means is shown more clearly in FIG. 2. As will be seen from that figure, the axle 7 of wedge 4 is pivotally secured to one end of a pair of links 8 which at their other ends are connected by pivotal axle 9 to one arm of a bell crank 10. The elbow of crank 10 is pivotally secured on a shaft 11 fixed to body 1, for vertical swinging movement. The outer end of the other or longer arm of crank 10 carries an axle 12 on which is pivotally secured a link 13, which in turn is pivotally interconnected by an axle 14 with an arm 15 rotatably secured by a shaft 16 to a vertically reciprocable slide that is screw-threadedly interconnected with a rotatable vertical shaft 17. A handwheel 34 is provided for turning shaft 17 so as to raise or lower the slide thereby to swing the arm 15 and link 13 and turn the bell crank 10 to advance or retract the wedge 4.

It will be understood that FIG 2 shows only one side of the structure and that mirror-image structure is present to the right of FIG. 2, so that a pair of wedges 4 are simultaneously advanceable or retractable by operation of handwheel 34.

It will also be understood that FIG. 2 is only half a figme in the sense that it shows only the upper wedge structure. There is also lower wedge structure, which can be identical to the upper wedge structure, and which can be secured to a lower portion of the body 1. The same shaft 17 can operate this lower wedge structure as well, so that four wedges 4 (an upper oppositely acting pair and a lower oppositely acting pair) are simultaneously actuated by rotation of handwheel 34.

A modified wedge-operating mechanism is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the two wedges 20 are pivotally connected to links 21 and by links 21 to one arm of bell cranks 22 swingable on fixed axles, the bell cranks 22 being in turn pivotally interconnected by their other arms, by links 23, with bell cranks 24 which, like the bell cranks 22, are mounted for vertical swinging movement about fixed axles on body 1. The other arms of the bell cranks 24 are pivotally interconnected with nuts 25, 27 that move in opposite directions n the oppositely screw-threaded ends of a screw shaft 26 upon rotation of a handwheel 29. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a separate drive is provided for each vertically spaced pair of wedges.

It will also be understood that instead of being manually actuated, the wedges can be actuated by other mechanical means or hydraulically or pneumatically. Particularly in the case of fluid actuation, locking mechanisms can be provided to lock the wedges in the desired position.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is evident that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for eliminating the space between a column and a body encompassing the column, comprising a pressure member carried by the body and movable toward and away from the column, a wedge for moving the pressure member toward the column, and means mounting the wedge for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis at right angles to the direction of movement of the wedge.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the wedge being vertically elongated with its axis of vertical swinging movement disposed intermediate its length.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, there being a plurality of said pressure members and wedges, and operating means common to said plurality for operating the wedges simultaneously.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said operating means acting between said wedges to urge them in opposite directions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and force-multiplying means for increasing the force by which the wedge urges the pressure member against the column.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said force-multiplyin g means comprising screw-and-bell-crank means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said force-multiplying means comprising a rotary operator, screw means for coverting rotary motion of said operator to rectilinear motion, and bell-crank means for transmitting said rectilinear motion to said wedge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,717 5/1956 Hevsner 24263 X 2,841,961 7/1958 Lucas 61-465 2,970,445 2/1961 Suderow 61-465 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

